"You get it now, don't you?" Zino pressed gently. "You've got two options: wait here and die for nothing… or get up and fight alongside me. Just say yes."
Another pause.
"…What say you?"
Zoro looked away, eyes fixed on the dusty ground for a few seconds. Then, slowly, he muttered, "…Fine. I'll become your crew… if you release me."
Zino's eyes lit up. "Really? Good! Let me get you out of there."
Without wasting time, Zino reached into his pocket. But instead of pulling out a typical object, he reached into his *System Storage*, a feature hidden to others, and retrieved a knife. From the outside, it looked like he had pulled the blade straight from inside his pants.
Zoro blinked, puzzled. "...You really came prepared."
"Of course I did," Zino replied with a confident smirk as he began cutting the ropes. "If I wasn't ready, you'd never agree to join me."
"So you predicted I'd say yes?" Zoro asked, his tone curious.
Zino didn't answer. He simply smiled knowingly and kept slicing through the bindings. A few seconds later, the ropes dropped to the ground, and Zoro slumped forward slightly, finally free after days of being tied up in the sun.
He looked weak and drained, but he managed to stay upright. Slowly, he sat down and leaned against the wooden cross behind him, catching his breath.
Without a word, he reached over and picked up the rice ball that had been thrown earlier—now dirty and a little flattened. Still, Zoro didn't hesitate. He took a bite, chewing slowly. The food was stale and partially ruined, but after starving for days, it was better than nothing.
Zino watched him with quiet satisfaction.
"All right. Now that I've released you, it's time to deal with a certain corrupt scumbag," Zino said, cracking his knuckles.
Zoro looked over at him, curious, as Zino turned his gaze upward toward the tall central building of the Marine base. He took a deep breath, cupped his hands around his mouth like a makeshift megaphone, and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"BASTARD MORGAN! COME OUT HERE!"
*COME OUT! OUT!*
His voice boomed across the courtyard, echoing loudly through the base like a thunderclap. The sheer force of the shout rattled windows and sent flocks of nearby birds flying away in panic. It wasn't just volume—it was enhanced. Zino, now partially attuned to his Devil Fruit's control over air, had instinctively manipulated the airflow to amplify his voice.
Even Zoro, standing nearby, winced and covered one ear. "Damn… What lungs do you have? Or was that part of your fruit's ability?"
Zino grinned and ignored the question. He raised his hands again and shouted once more.
"CHICKEN MORGAN! YOU COWARD! GET OUT NOW!"
*NOW! NOW!*
The words rang through the base like rolling thunder. Everyone heard it. Marines, cooks, janitors—every person in the base paused to look out of windows or step outside.
Up in the command tower, a furious voice bellowed, "Who the hell is shouting my name like that?!"
Not a moment later, Captain Morgan stormed out of the building, his large axe-hand gleaming in the sunlight, and his square jaw clenched in rage. His iconic metal jaw piece clicked as he snarled. Behind him, a few lower-ranking marines nervously trailed, unsure of what was going on.
His sharp eyes scanned the area and quickly landed on two figures standing boldly in the middle of the open field—Zino and Zoro.
"You bastards! Was it you two who dared to call me out like that!?"
Zino smirked and stepped forward with no hint of fear. "Little chicken, finally you came crawling out. I was wondering how long it would take for your ego to get dragged into the light."
Morgan's eyes flared with fury. "You dare mock me!?"
"I dare because someone has to. I've heard about what you've done—extorting the townspeople, abusing your rank, treating this base like your personal kingdom. That's not justice. That's tyranny. And I'm here to put an end to it."
Morgan's face twisted in rage. "Who the hell do you think you are to question me?! I am the law on this island! My word is absolute!"
"You might think that," Zino replied calmly, "but I wonder what the higher-ups would say if they knew what you've been doing behind their backs."
"Enough!" Morgan roared, his axe-hand raised. "Soldiers! Arrest this fool immediately!"
But no one moved.
The marines standing nearby glanced at each other hesitantly. Zino, though young, wore an official trainee uniform from Marine Headquarters. More importantly, the tag on his uniform clearly marked him as a special candidate—one who likely had powerful connections. No one wanted to make a wrong move, especially not when the balance of authority seemed uncertain.
Their inaction only fueled Morgan's anger.
"What are you all standing around for?! I gave you an order!"
But still, the soldiers remained frozen.
Zino crossed his arms. "Looks like your grip on this base isn't as strong as you thought, Captain."
Morgan clenched his teeth, veins bulging in his forehead. "Shut up, you nameless marine trainee-"
"I'm Zino, grandson of Chief Commander Kong," Zino declared calmly, cutting Morgan mid sentence. His voice laced with a casual confidence that sent a ripple of tension through the air.
He didn't shout or posture—he simply dropped the name like a hammer, knowing exactly what kind of effect it would have. As expected, the surrounding marines stirred. Some looked confused, clearly unfamiliar with the name, but others—those with better knowledge of Marine hierarchy—froze in shock.
"Wait… Chief Commander Kong? The former Fleet Admiral?"
"Isn't he one of the top brass at Marine Headquarters?"
A few of the more informed marines whispered hurriedly to their peers, spreading the information like wildfire. Within seconds, nearly everyone present was aware of who Zino was—and more importantly, what that meant. This wasn't just some rogue trainee. He was the blood relative of one of the highest-ranking figures in the entire Marine organization.
Captain Morgan's expression hardened. Unlike most of his men, he knew very well who Monkey D. Kong was. The name alone made his stomach twist, but he tried to maintain his composure.
"So, you're *that* Zino…" Morgan muttered, frowning. "What brings a grandson of Commander Kong to my base?"
Zino met his gaze without flinching. "I've come to deliver your demotion, Captain. As of today, you are no longer fit to hold your rank. From now on, consider yourself reduced to the level of a foot soldier."
A moment of stunned silence fell across the courtyard.
"What!?" Morgan roared, his face turning red with fury. "You think you can just walk in here and say that!? I've spent years building my command over this island. I'm the one who rules Shell Town! Who the hell do you think you are to strip me of my rank?!"
"You already forgot," Zino replied with a smirk. "I'm Zino. And I don't need a formal warrant to bring justice where it's due. I just need to beat you."
Before Morgan could even process the words, Zino disappeared from sight with a blur.
*Boom!*
In the blink of an eye, Zino had crossed the distance using *Soru*, the high-speed movement technique of the Rokushiki style. The soldiers barely saw a flicker of motion before Zino appeared directly in front of Morgan, his index finger extended.
"*Shigan.*"
The technique struck with surgical precision. Zino's finger pierced Morgan's chest like a bullet, driving through the captain's uniform and into his body with terrifying force. Blood erupted from Morgan's mouth as his right lung was punctured, the pain immediate and overwhelming.
But Zino wasn't finished.
Grabbing the larger man by the head, Zino slammed him downward with brutal strength, smashing his skull into the stone ground. The resulting impact echoed through the base like thunder. Morgan's eyes rolled back, and his massive frame went limp as consciousness left him.
The courtyard was dead silent.
The infamous Captain Morgan—tyrant of Shell Town—lay motionless in a pool of his own blood.
*"He's strong…"* Zoro stared at Zino, a look of disbelief mixed with admiration flashing in his eyes. He hadn't expected this boy—this seemingly unremarkable marine trainee—to possess such overwhelming strength. *So this is his true power,* Zoro thought, feeling both impressed and slightly uneasy. *Not only that… his background must be something special too.*
Then, without warning, a loud cheer broke out among the marines.
"HURRAY!!"
The moment Captain Morgan hit the ground, the soldiers erupted into joyous celebration. The atmosphere shifted like a storm passing through—where there had once been fear and tension, now there was pure relief and happiness. The look on their faces made it clear: they were truly grateful to be freed from Morgan's oppressive rule.
"Tie him down!" one of the soldiers shouted.
"Yes, sir!" another responded immediately.
They moved quickly. A few marines rushed to grab a strong rope, while others made sure Morgan remained unconscious. They tied him securely, wrapping the rope around his arms, legs, and torso as if he were a dangerous beast. Judging from their cautious expressions, it was clear they weren't taking any chances.
"Ah! Ah! Father! What are you all doing? Why are you tying my father?!" a panicked voice cried out.
It was Helmeppo, Morgan's spoiled and arrogant son. His eyes were wide with confusion and fear as he pushed his way through the crowd. He could hardly believe what he was seeing.
"Arrest him," Zino said calmly, pointing directly at Helmeppo. "He's just as guilty. He's the source of many of the troubles in this town."
"Yes, sir!"
The soldiers didn't hesitate. Almost as if they'd been waiting for permission, they grabbed Helmeppo and wrestled him to the ground. A few of them even took the opportunity to vent their pent-up frustration.
"Argh! What are you doing!? Let me go! I'm Captain Morgan's son!" Helmeppo shrieked, struggling.
One soldier barked, "Shut the hell up. You and your father have been a plague on this base long enough!"
Another stepped forward, "You had no problem ordering us around before. Now it's your turn. Take this—!"
*Whack!*
"Taste my fist too!" another added, punching him square in the face.
"Guh! Gahk!" Helmeppo groaned, falling limp under the flurry of blows.
Before long, he lay unconscious beside his father, bruised and bloodied. The marines didn't look guilty—they looked satisfied.
Once the chaos settled, the soldiers gathered in front of Zino. Their expressions were sincere. With one unified motion, they bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Sir Zino."
Zino looked at them, his expression calm but firm. "You've all endured a lot under Morgan's tyranny. But from today onward, Shell Town is no longer under the shadow of that man."
The soldiers stood tall, their morale clearly lifted by Zino's presence. He continued, "Now, your duty is clear. Secure Morgan and his son, and prepare a full report. Gather evidence of every crime they've committed—bribery, abuse of power, assault, extortion. I'm sure there's plenty to document."
"Yes, sir. We'll make sure it's all recorded and sent to Marine Headquarters," said the acting Vice-Captain.
Zino gave a small nod. "Good. I'll be leaving this in your hands for now. I still have other business to handle."
With that, he turned to Zoro, who was still weak and recovering after being tied to the cross for so long. Zino stepped forward and offered his arm for support. Zoro hesitated for a moment, then accepted the help, leaning on Zino as they began to walk away from the marine base courtyard.
The soldiers watched in silence as the two figures left—one walking tall, the other leaning but no less proud. Their departure was quiet, but something about it felt monumental. Zino had arrived like a storm and left just as swiftly, but he had changed everything.
A young marine broke the silence. "Vice-Captain… do you really think he's Chief Kong's grandson?"
The Vice-Captain crossed his arms thoughtfully. "Whether he is or isn't, it doesn't matter. What matters is what he did here today. He saved us all. That's the kind of man the Marines need."
Another soldier added, "What do we do with Morgan and Helmeppo now?"
"We'll transport them to Loguetown," the Vice-Captain replied. "Let the higher-ups deal with them. They'll know what punishment fits best."
"Understood."
"Also… write a full report on the boy. Everything he did, every word he said. We need to make sure Marine HQ knows what happened here—especially if he really is Chief Kong's grandson."
As the marines began their cleanup, the shadow of tyranny lifted. Shell Town had been freed.
And somewhere on the road ahead, a new crew had begun to form.